Method of operating a handheld device for directional input

Abstract

A directional input device for use in a handheld device is disclosed herein. The directional input device provides input to an element of the user interface in response to the inclination of the handheld. The input device can be embedded into any handheld communicating or computing device to provide directional input to an element of the user interface of the handheld without consuming space on the face of the device that could otherwise be used for a larger screen.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An input device, for embedding in a handheld device, for providing directional input to an element of the user interface in the handheld device in response to an inclination of the handheld device, the input device comprising: 
 a primary contact positionally fixed in the handheld;    a directional contact positionally fixed in the handheld and operatively connected to the primary contact;    circuit closing means, movable on, and in electrical contact with, the primary contact, for movement, in response to inclination of the handheld device in the direction of the directional contact, between a neutral position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form an open circuit, and an active position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form a closed circuit; and    a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the primary and directional contacts, for generating the directional input to the element of the user interface when the closed circuit is formed.    
     
     
         2 . The input device of  claim 1 , further including a second directional contact positionally fixed in the handheld and operatively connected to the primary contact to form a second open circuit when the circuit closing means is in the neutral position, and wherein the second open circuit is closable by the circuit closing means in response to inclination of the handheld device in the direction of the second directional contact by movement of the circuit closing means to a second active position.  
     
     
         3 . The input device of  claim 2 , wherein the direction interpreter generates a second directional input when the circuit closing means is in the second active position.  
     
     
         4 . The input device of  claim 3 , wherein the generated second directional input is uniquely associated with the direction of the inclination.  
     
     
         5 . The input device of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of subsequent directional contacts, positionally fixed in the handheld, each subsequent directional contact connected to the primary contact to create a plurality of subsequent open circuits, each subsequent open circuit closable by the circuit closing means in response to an inclination of the handheld device in the direction of the associated subsequent directional contact by movement of the circuit closing means to a subsequent active position.  
     
     
         6 . The input device of  claim 5 , wherein the direction interpreter generates a directional input when the circuit closing means is in a subsequent active position.  
     
     
         7 . The input device of  claim 6 , wherein the generated the directional input is uniquely associated with the direction of the inclination.  
     
     
         8 . The input device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the directional contacts are further connected to adjacent directional contacts to create a plurality of secondary open circuits, each of the plurality of secondary open circuits closable by the circuit closing means in response to inclination of the handheld to a junction of adjacent directional contacts.  
     
     
         9 . The input device of  claim 8 , wherein the direction interpreter generates the directional input when one of the secondary open circuits is closed.  
     
     
         10 . The input device of  claim 1 , further including a base, electrically connected to the primary contact, for supporting the circuit closing means in response to movement between the neutral position and the active position.  
     
     
         11 . The input device of  claim 10 , wherein the base biases the circuit closing means to the neutral position.  
     
     
         12 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit closing means is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         13 . The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit closing means a mercury contact.  
     
     
         14 . An input device, embedded in a handheld device, for providing directional input to an element of the user interface in the handheld device in response to an inclination of the handheld device, the input device comprising: 
 a base positionally fixed in the handheld;    a plurality of directional contacts, positionally fixed in the handheld around the base, each directional contact operatively connected to at least one adjacent directional contact;    circuit closing means, movable on the base between a neutral position in which the base and the plurality of directional contacts are in open circuit, and a plurality of active positions in which two of the plurality of directional contacts are operatively connected to close the open circuit in response to the inclination of the handheld device in the direction of a pair of adjacent directional contacts; and    a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the plurality of directional contacts, for generating the directional input in response to closing the open circuit.    
     
     
         15 . The input device of  claim 14 , wherein the direction interpreter generates a unique directional input for each active position of the circuit closing means.  
     
     
         16 . The input device of  claim 14 , wherein the base biases the circuit closing means to the neutral position.  
     
     
         17 . The input device of  claim 14 , wherein the base has a plurality of grooves for guiding the circuit closing means between the neutral position and at least one of the plurality of active positions.  
     
     
         18 . The input device of  claim 14 , wherein the circuit closing means is a ball bearing.  
     
     
         19 . The input device of  claim 14 , wherein the circuit closing means is a mercury contact.  
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling an element of the user interface of a handheld device based on the inclination of the handheld device, the method comprising: 
 sensing the inclination of the handheld device;    generating a directional input signal representative of the inclination of the handheld device;    transmitting the generated directional input signal to the user interface of the handheld device; and    processing the transmitted directional input signal to control the element of the user interface.